Betts: Five D1 matchups for Canadian fans to follow this weekend

Right-hander Kurt Barr (Saint Joachim, Ont.) is expected to start for Michigan in the second game of their series against the University of Illinois. Photo: University of Michigan Athletics

March 7, 2025

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The theme for this week’s games to watch is Canadian versus Canadian.

Michigan vs. Illinois

There seems to be no better place to start than Vero Beach, Florida where the University of Michigan takes on the University of Illinois in a three-game series.

For the Wolverines, RHP Kurt Barr (Saint Joachim, Ont.) is looking for his first win. He’s made three starts and pitched to a 3.12 ERA but is 0-2. It’s expected he’ll start Game 2.

In the bullpen for Michigan, freshman RHP Tate Carey (Windsor, Ont.) has made four relief appearances and owns a 4.05 ERA.

In the other dugout, the Illini have relied heavily on three Canadians.

OF Nick Groves (Bayfield, Ont.) is second on the team with a .405 average, INF Greg LaChance (Whitby, Ont.) is hitting .385 with 11s RBI and OF Cameron Chee-Aloy (Toronto, Ont.) leads the team with eight stolen bases.

Southeast Missouri State vs. Indiana State

LHP Haden Dow (Saint John, N.B.) is fresh off being named the Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week after tossing a complete game shutout in a 5-0 win over Purdue Fort Wayne. Dow has been the Redhawks’ Game 3 or 4 starter so far this season.

He’ll try to limit the damage done by OF Carter Beck (Carnduff, Sask.), who’s hitting .279 with two home runs, eight RBIs and a .948 OPS.

Tulane vs. North Dakota State

The Green Wave and Bison are going in opposite directions early on as Tulane owns a 9-3 record, while North Dakota State has limped to an 1-11 start.

C Hugh Pinkney (Toronto, Ont.) has played in seven games, making six starts for Tulane and is hitting .200.

OF Dante Smith (Ajax, Ont.) has slashed .227/.346/.273 through seven games played for NDSU. He’s also flashed the leather with a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Princeton vs. VCU

Princeton is coming off their first win of the season and was it ever a big one. The Tigers took down No. 12 Wake Forest, 7-6, last Sunday. OF Caden Shapiro (Toronto, Ont.) had a hit, a walk, two RBIs and a stolen base in the victory.

He’ll look to build on that performance against INF Noah Kirkpatrick (Surrey, BC) and the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams.

Kirkpatrick has played in all 11 games for the Rams but is off to a slow start at the plate with a .179 average.

No. 7 Florida vs. Harvard

Two freshmen square off in Gainesville, Florida in a three-game series.

Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) is swinging a hot bat for the Gators, hitting .347 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 14 games played.

LHP Luca Alagheband (Toronto, Ont.) has made three appearances out of the bullpen for Harvard and has a 7.71 ERA.